A diagnostic medical sonographer is a person who uses specialized equipment to create images of the human body’s interior. These images are then displayed on a monitor for physicians to use in making diagnoses.
On the skin in the area being examined, a sonographer applies a colorless and odorless gel. On the same surface of the skin, he or she places a small device called a transducer, which transmits sound waves inside the patient’s body. These sound waves reverberate and form an image. This image is displayed on a monitor and is used to diagnose diseases, assess the health of an organ, or track the development of a fetus.
Ultrasounds, or sonographs, do not emit harmful radiation, unlike X-ray monitoring. As a result, sonography is becoming a more popular field as more people opt for less invasive methods of monitoring inside the human body.
The majority of sonographers work in hospitals, but some also work in clinics, private physician offices, laboratories, and public health facilities. A sonographer may choose to focus on one or more specific areas. Abdominal areas, obstetrics and gynecology, vascular technology, neurosonology, breast screening, and ophthalmology are some of the specialties available.
A sonographer usually has to stand for long periods of time. He must also be able to lift up to 50 pounds (about 23 kg), bend frequently, and use his hands, wrists, and shoulders completely. A sonographer must be able to communicate with physicians, nurses, and patients, both healthy and critically ill.
The requirements for becoming a sonographer differ between countries and even states in the United States. In the United States, one to four years of education and experience are typically required to become sufficiently proficient in a given specialty. Though the length of training varies specialty, most sonographers spend about two years in a hospital, vocational and technical institutes, colleges and universities, or the military.
Because many employers prefer to hire from accredited institutions, it is critical for a sonographer to ensure that the institution where he or she is studying is reputable. One source for a list of accredited diagnostic medical sonography programs is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Helping people, interacting one-on-one with patients, and expanding one’s skills as the field of ultrasound technology expands are just a few of the advantages of sonography work.